South African rand firms after PMI data, markets gear up for US vote
Updates prices to reflect afternoon trade, adds analyst quote in paragraph 7
JOHANNESBURG, Nov 5 (Reuters) -South Africa's rand edged higher onTuesday after the release of a local purchasing managers' index and as the United States headed to the polls to elect its next leader.
At 1523 GMT, the rand traded at 17.445 againstthe U.S. dollar ZAR=D3, up 0.33% from its previous close.
The dollar =USD last traded about 0.3% softeragainst a basket of currencies.
South Africa's private sector maintained its growth trajectory in October, bolstered by a decline in business costs and selling prices, a PMI survey showed .
Global investor focus is firmly on what is expected to be atight race between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris.
The outcome of the vote may not be known for days.
"The Federal Reserve's decision to cut rates, anticipated on Thursday, will likely add further volatility to an already tense market atmosphere," said Wichard Cilliers, director and head of market risk at TreasuryONE.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates by 25 basis points on Thursday.
On the stock market, the Top-40 .JTOPI index closed nearly 0.6% higher.
South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond ZAR2030= was marginally weaker, with the yield up 1 basis point to 9.315%.
Reporting by Tannur Anders and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Sumana Nandy and Franklin Paul
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